What kind of clause do you expect to follow the statement:I don't agree ...?

Neighbour 1 says:You said just now, "I stole the money". If you didn’t steal, you wouldn’t have said that way.Neighbour 2:I didn’t steal. But in what way should I say?N 1:In such a case, how about saying, "I don’t agree with your opinion I stole the money.", though it still has some room for doubt. But ... I needn't have doubted you, sorry.N 2:Not at all.

Kirill has a good point.I understand that you really want to use "agree", so I'm not sure how to change it.

"I didn't steal it!" would be normal if you somehow got some money (legally)."I didn't steal any money!" is more general - maybe you got some money and maybe you didn't but you didn't steal any.

"I don't agree that I stole it" sounds as if there is some basis for saying that you stole it, but you don't agree (perhaps you tricked someone, and had them give you money, or something).

After "I don't agree", it is better to use 'that . . .' to avoid the possible ambiguity in speech.I don't agree I stole the money - I got it, but it wasn't stealing.I don't agree; I stole the money - I stole it. (Maybe a colon,or even a full stop) would be better.)Wyrd bið ful aræd - bull!

I agree with Drago - the sentence sounds like the sort of slippery thing one would say to avoid one accusation by concentrating on another.

I you weren't a thief and there was no question of you being one, you'd say "I didn't steal the money" a strong, direct and true statement of fact.

I you said, "I don't agree I stole the money" it would suggest that yes, you took the money. But you didn't consider that stealing: you might consider it a loan, or the payback for a previous loan, or even a present.

To add my two cents:The sentence means "I didn't steal the money." All agree to this.As argued above by others, saying it the way OP has posted gives an impression that the money was taken, but it may not be a theft. I personally feel that this style of writing is a play of words that a lawyer in court or a story-writer in his book can use. The lawyers do not say directly. They have the art of saying a point with always having a vent open for discussion which can be moulded in any direction as required.

We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. ~ Swami Vivekanand

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